May 29

Home Sweet Home

_____________________________________

Carolina wrens made a nest

Decided a tin can is best

To raise their brood

Now a bird house, not a tool shed

A place for songbirds to rest their heads

I provide food

*

Nest made of needles, leaves and moss

Tucked in next to the semi-gloss

Speckled eggs rest

Building’s been there less than a year

And these birds made it very clear

This shed is best.

_____________________________________

(A Rime Couee Poem)

May 28

Happily Never After

_____________________________________

Reflecting on the dreams of many years ago

When we were young and still evolving

Love was uncomplicated, life was slow

Around ourselves the world was revolving

As we grew our relationship was dissolving

I know who I am now, what I treasure

And having this new life is a pleasure.

_____________________________________

(A Rime Royal)

May 27

Trifolium pratense

_____________________________________

Improves the soil wherever it grows

Why call it a weed, I’ll never know

Lots of food for pollinating bees

Rabbits find it a delicacy

It is Vermont’s state flower

And known for its healing power

Great for butterflies, red clover.

_____________________________________

(A Septet Poem)

May 26

Liriodendron tulipifera

_____________________________________

The branches terminate gloriously

In flowers displaying magnificent

Shape, hidden overhead apically

Where winged wildlife investigate

Them, until descending elegantly

To forests’ humusy terra firma

Where humans finally appreciate.

_____________________________________

(A Ropalic Poem)

May 25

Clematis

_____________________________________

One day the vine’s all green leaves and promise

Next day a solo flower opens wide

This year’s display I sure don’t want to miss

Each time I think to I observe wide-eyed

In a blink becomes stunningly adorned

Palm-sized flowers cover plant in masses

Those fuzzy green buds will never be mourned

If you can’t see beauty you need glasses

Counts among botanical badasses

_____________________________________

(A Novelinee Poem)

May 22

Rhubarb

_____________________________________

I don’t know why but I grew it

To figure out now what to do

Bake, roast, mash, sauté, or stew it

To peel or leave as it grew.

          So sour to taste when I chew it

          These plants – don’t need more than a few

*

Rough green leaves grow to large sizes

Ruby red stalks are the best part

The flavor really surprises

Add sugar to make it less tart

          Sweeten when the chance arises

          Not eating the leaves is so smart

*

Don’t know if it’s veggie or fruit

All depends on how it’s applied

You ingest neither leaves nor root

Normally you don’t see it fried

          To grow is an easy pursuit

          To use you may be stupefied

*

I’m thrilled in my garden it grows

Each spring I choose to display it

In sauces and in pies it goes

Season’s end – how to delay it?

          The people who enjoy it know

          Craving – be sure to obey it.

_____________________________________

(An Inverted Refrain Poem)